The Baltic Palace Hotel – a contextual metaphor! ..

By Marina Correa

Photography:© Piotr Krajewski; courtesy the architects

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Inspired by the waves and sand dunes of its surroundings, the 36,000 sq. ft., all-glass façade of the Baltic Palace Hotel marks cutting-edge dynamism, clearly distinctive from the traditionally-built, slopping-roof houses dotting this tiny picturesque resort town of Pobierowo, Poland…

Jointly designed and built by two Polish architects - Mateusz Tański and Piotr Michalewicz - who are well-known for their progressive architectural style, the built-form reflects a light, contemporary and fresh approach.

 

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Due to the sharp curvature of the glass, the building’s front flows down from the top ensuring a border-less transition between roof, façade and entrance patio resembling a cascading waterfall. Heightening the aesthetic is rope lighting that begins from the roof and continues right down and across the pedestrian walkway.

 

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During the evening hours, the building resembles a frosty ice-box sitting amidst warm environs. And it is only when you walk through to the hotel interiors, or even the outdoor café, that the warmth and camaraderie really embraces you.

 

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With a pastel colour palette and earthy textures, the interiors are inspired by the region’s natural environment such as beige sandy beaches, azure blue sea, lush greenery, brown tree trunks, etc. This sharply contrasting juxtaposition of a warm interior with a cool exterior makes for a cutting-edge approach.

 

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Besides 44 rooms, suites, spa, swimming pools etc., the 4-star hotel boasts an underground level, where the nightclub transforms into a conference centre by day, articulating flexibility into spaces. On similar lines, normal segmentation of the façade seamlessly harmonizes with the interior layout as rooms are tucked behind glass walls whilst circulation paths and entrances are located between them. The same rhythmic pattern follows through till the rear (southern) exterior portion with the back wall made from large granite slabs.

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With the frontage enrobed from top-to-bottom in glass, the hotel attracts maximum natural daylight; simultaneously reflecting natural and illuminated light onto its surroundings, much after the sun has gone down.